Tunnel wall block



Au 9, 1932. A w- WARN ET 1,870,539

TUNNEL WALL BLOCK Filed Aug. 29, 1930 2 Sheets-$lleet 1 Aug. 9, 1932. A. w. WARNER ET AL 1,870,539

TUNNEL WALL BLOCK Filed Aug. 29. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 warmfla? 2/ 2/ EGSCOPFJ Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR W. WARNER, 01 MEDIA, AND ,ROSCOE F. BALLARD, OF CHESTER, PENNSYL- VAN IA, ASSIGNORS TO TUNNEL AND MINE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION, OF JERSEY TUNNEL WALL BLOCK Application filed August 29. 1930. Serial No. 478,730.

This invention relates to masonry blocks for use in the construction of tubular conduits as, for example, ducts, tunnel linings or the like, and more particularly to the con- 5 struction of a block capable of economical use in the construction of tunnel linings and in conjunction with tunneling machines employed in forming such tunnels as set forth in our co-pending application, Serial No.

AS8338, filed July 16, 1930, for Method of and apparatus for forming tunnels.

In the construction of tunnels of the conduittype by the use of masonry blocks the tunnel is usually formed by means of a shield advanced through jacks or some similarstructure operating against the tunnel lining. In the construction of a. four-foot tunnel, for example, very little space is available for workmen laying the blocks which form the wall, and since it is desirable that the maximum throw of the jack be available in advancing the tunnel shield it is desirable that the block be of such character that it may be readily inserted in a small space and at the same time may occupy its final position with as little movement'as possible after insertion. It is also desirable that blocks employed for this purpose be so constructed that they may accommodate themselves to deformations of the tunnel lining and at the same time have such engagement with one another that they will solidly resist the pressures imposed thereon by the shifting of the materials forming the tunnel walls. It is 5 furthermore desirable that the blocks solidly interlock with one another as it is substantially impossible to produce a tunnel wall which is uniform and against which the blocks may be directly laid. In some cases in the completed tunnel the blocks will be out of engagement with the walls and, accordingly, the connections between adjacent blocks must be of such character that at such points the tunnel wall will be self-supporting against the tendency thereof to move either inwardly or outwardly.

An important object of this invention is the production of a block embodying all of 7 these characteristics and which, at the same time, may be very readily and cheaply manufactured.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, we have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of a tunnel lining constructed of blocks formed in accordance with our invention, a block being shown as partially inserted;

- Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is an inner face View of one of the blocks;

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof;

dig. 5 is an elevation of one side thereof; an

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the opposite side thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the block comprises a hexagonal body having substantially arcuate inner and outer faces 10 and 11 and parallel end faces 12 and 13. The sides 14 and 15 of the block are each radially disposed and comprise angularly disposed faces 16, 16a and 17 17a. These angularly disposed facesare each formed with an element 18 or 19 of a tongue and groove connection, the faces of each side 14 and 15 being equipped with similar elements of the connection. These elements in each instance taper in width longitudinally of the face to which they are applied, the side 14 being at present shown as equipped with the groove of the joint, the groove tapering in width from the end faces 12 and 13 toward the junction of the faces 16, 16a, while the side 15 is equipped with a tongue increasing in width from the end faces 12 and 13 toward the junction of the faces 17, 17a. The tongue 19 decreases in width from its base to its free face and the groove 18 provided in the side 14 decreases in width inwardly toward its bottom but is made slightly wider than the width of the tongue for a purpose presently to appear. One end face 12 is equipped with a tongue 20 of uniform transverse cross section and tapering in width from its base to its free face while the other face 13 is formed with a groove 21 for accommodation of the similar ton ue of a second block but affording a sli t space about the tongue.

n laying .up the wall or tunnel lining with blocks of this character, each course is staggered with relation to the succeeding and precedin courses and aifords between adj acent of which is defined by the end face of a block of a previously laid course. This space decreases in width toward its inner end and is adapted to receive the tapered inner end of a block of the next course, Since the space provided tapers, it will be obvious that the lock may be inserted into the notch without entering the same from the outer end thereof so that the clearance provided for insertion of the blocks of a new course is less than the depth of the blocks between the end faces 12 and 13. Since the portions of the blocks which must be inserted in these gaps taper, the blocks once entered in the opening may be shoved to substantially their final ositions with the hand so that the actual distance through which they must be shoved by a power means, such as the jacks of tunneling apparatus, hereinbefore referred to, will be very shortand, accordingly, the lost motion resulting in the use of the jacks is reduced to a minimum.

1 Attention is further directed to the fact that since the tongue and groove connections taper and the smaller end of the tongue is primarily entered in each instance at the larger end of the roove connection the block in insertion may fie canted so that in its primary installation it may be entered in the notch provided for its reception while its outer end still overlies the head of a jack .J

' though they be coated with pitch at their meeting faces as is usually thecase inlaying up the tunnel lining and the spaces afforded at these connections act, furthermore, as reservoirs receiving the surplus pitch squeezed from between the faces during the ap lication of seating pressure to the blocks.

ince the construction employed is obviously, capable of a certain range of change and modification withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto exce t as hereinafter claimed.

v e claim:

1. A tunnel wall block having parallel ends and having sides, each side including two faces forming a salient angle, the faces of each side being equipped with similar elements oftongue andgroove joints, the ele ments of diametrically opposed faces of opposite sides being complementary, each of locks thereof a space, the inner end said elements tapering in width in a direction longitudinal to the face.

2. A tunnel wall block having parallel ends and having sides, each side including two faces forming a salient 1e, the faces of each side being equipped wi similar elements of tongue and groove joints, the elements of diametrically o posed faces of opposits sides being complementary, each of said elements tapering in width in a direction longitudinal to the face, the tongueelements havin the narrow ends thereof disposed 'at the 1unction of the ends and sides.

3 A tunnel lining block having parallel ends and having sides, each side including two faces forming a salient angle, the faces of each side being equipped with an element of a t ue and groove joint, theelements of diametrically opposed faces of opposite sides being complementary, each of said elements tapering in width in a direction longitudinal to the face.

4. A tunnel wall block parallel ends and having sides, each side including two faces forming a salient angle, he faces of each side being equipped with similar elements of tongue and gmove joints, the dements of diametrically o posed faces of opposite sides being comp ementary, each of said elements tapering in width in a direction longitudinal to the face and in a. direction perpendicular to the face.

5. A tunnel lining block having parallel ends and having sides, each side including two faces forming a. salient angle, the faces of each side being equipped with an element of a tongue and groove joint, the elenmits of diametrically opposed faces of op sides being complementary, each of said elementB taperin in width in a direction longitudinal to the ace and in a direction perpendicular to the face. I

ARTHUR W. WARNER. ROSOOE F. BALLARIL 

